More than half of the 24 I&R states require that petition circulators be eligible to vote in the state. The requirement that a circulator be eligible to vote also has the consequence that the circulator be at least 18. In states where there is no eligibility requirement, people who are under 18 are allowed to circulate petitions.

Disclosing Paid Status

Seven states require circulators to disclose whether they are a paid or a volunteer circulator to potential petition signers. These states are Arizona, California, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon and Wyoming--all of which require that a prominent notice be placed on the petition form stating whether the circulator is paid or volunteer--and Missouri, where the circulator must file an affidavit with the Missouri Secretary of State.

In Florida, the law specifically says that petitions may be signed outside the presence of a circulator:

Bans on payment-per-signature

In three states--North Dakota, Oregon and Wyoming--initiative sponsors are banned from paying petition circulators per signature. Instead, they may pay a flat fee or an hourly salary. These laws have been challenged in the courts with mixed results.